1. What is righteousness? The Bible definition is: "For all Your commandments are righteousness" (Psalms 119:172.) Will we be kings and priests in the millennial reign of Jesus Christ in the Kingdom of God on this earth? (Revelation 1:5-6, 5:10). Will Jesus judge righteously? (John 5:30).

Note: If we are going to be kings and priests then that means that as kings we will be ruling over people, cities and perhaps countries. As priests we will be teaching the people God’s way of life. As kings we will be judging and making judicial judgments.

2. As kings and priests under Jesus Christ in the millennium, we will have to make righteous judgments. Today we are in training to become kings and priests. Now, let’s look at some Scriptures and see what we can glean in making righteous judgments.

Is righteousness and justice very important to God? (Proverbs 21:3, 15). Is it important for a king to establish justice in his kingdom? (Proverbs 29:4, 20:8). Will we actually be judging for the LORD? (2 Chronicles 19:6). As a king, should we transgress in judgment? (Proverbs 16:10-13).

3. To judge righteously should we first judge ourselves? (1 Corinthians 11:31). Should we repent of our sins to be righteous? (Acts 2:38).

Note: There is no way that you can make righteous judgments if you have not repented of your sins.

4. In order to make righteous judgments we must get the facts and seek the truth on both sides of the case. (Proverbs 18:17, 18:13). Note: We have to remember that justice comes from the truth and we have to ask questions of both parties to get to heart of the problem. We have to be open minded and hear every aspect of the situation. We have to remember that people always put themselves in the best light in a situation. We must never render a judgment without getting the whole story. Don’t make a rash judgment, sleep on it. We must also remember to discern the attitudes and motives of those involved. Carnality is always involved and the heart is deceitfully wicked (Jeremiah 17:9). People may ask a question but may slant it to get their own way and make them look good. We must pray to God for discernment in making decisions on our judgments.

5. Should we judge by appearance? (John 7:24, 2 Corinthians 10:7). In the story of David when he was being anointed by Samuel (1 Samuel 16:5-13), did God warn Samuel not to look on the appearance of a person? (Verse 7). What does God look at? (Same verse).

6. Should you be a respecter of persons? (Exodus 23:1-3, Leviticus 19:15-18).

Note: We must not play politics or favorites. We must not favor a rich man over a poor man, or vice versa.

7. Should a righteous judge accept a gift or a bribe? (Exodus 23:8, Deuteronomy 16:19, Proverbs 17:23, Ecclesiastes 7:7, Isaiah 5:23).

Note: A king, priest or judge should never accept a gift to be obligated to anyone. This could be food, clothes or services. Avoid situations that could affect your making righteous judgments.

8. Should a judge always be fair? (Ezekiel 33:17-18). God is always fair and so should we be when making judgments. Should our righteous judgments be impartial? (Exodus 23:3, Deuteronomy 1:17, 10:17, 16:19, 2 Chronicles 19:7, Psalms 82:2, Proverbs 18:5, Romans 2:11, James 2:1, 4, 9, 3:17, 1 Peter 1:17).

Note: The problems in our country would be better if the courts would be impartial. Politics and bribes are involved. We can see what is wrong in our society today. We should try and see if we can determine how to solve them righteously. How would we solve them in the millennium under Jesus Christ’s rule? Obviously Jesus will reign supreme and His judgments will be fair and impartial and righteous (1 John 2:1).

9. Educate yourself in God’s laws, statues and judgments. Are we to learn about God’s commandments, statutes and judgments? (Deuteronomy 6:1). God said that He would establish a king over the ancient Israelites (Deuteronomy 17:14-20). Was the king to be a foreigner? (Verse 15). Was the king to multiply horses, wives, houses and wealth to himself? (Verses 16 and 17). Was the king to write for himself a copy of the law in a book? (Verse 18). Was the king to read it all of the days of his life? (Verse 19). Was the king to learn to fear the LORD his God? (Same verse). Was the king to be careful to observe all the words of this law and these statutes? (Same verse). If the king did this, would his days be prolonged in his kingdom? (Verse 20).

Note: Take a look at our politicians in our country today and see how wealthy they are? Where did all of that wealth come from? Has our president written God’s laws in a book and is he trying to abide by God’s laws? Is our supreme court trying to abide by God’s commandments, statutes and judgments? It seems like they are not even trying to abide by our Constitution much less God’s law.

10. Should a wise king or priest seek wise council in difficult cases? (Proverbs 11:14, 15:22).

Note: A wise king will have a council of men, who are well versed in law, defense, education, etc. God even has 24 angelic elders around His throne that He can confer with (Revelation 4:4).

11. In making righteous judgments we must think of the long term effects. This takes a lot of wisdom to consider the results of a judgment. Your judgment must not cause problems in the future. What is the long term consequences? We must not make judgments quickly. A band-aid solution will not work. Do we need to have vision for our judgments? (Proverbs 29:18).

12. Always be clear and specific in your judgments. Are God’s statutes and judgments clear and specific that man can live by them? (Leviticus 18:4-5). Is there a time for judgment for every matter? (Ecclesiastes 8:6-7).

13. Does mercy triumph over judgment? (James 2:13). Does godly sorrow lead to repentance which leads to salvation? (2 Corinthians 7:9-10).

Note: Mercy follows judgment which follows repentance. Being sorrowful by itself is not repentance but it can lead to repentance. We must not let mercy replace judgment. Remember the story of David and Bathsheba. David got Bathsheba pregnant, he had her husband killed in battle, when the baby was born it died. (2 Samuel 11 and 12). David fasted and prayed and repented (Psalms 51) but he still had to live with the penalties of God’s judgment.

14. For a person to make righteous judgments he must have the mind of Christ. (Philippians 2:5). Did Jesus come into the world for judgment? (John 9:39). Will Jesus establish His millennial rule on the earth with peace and establish God’s kingdom with judgment and justice? (Isaiah 9:7). Note: The Saints will rule with Jesus in the kingdom and we now must learn to make righteous judgments.

1.) (Psalms 119:172) "My tongue shall speak of Your word, For all Your commandments are righteousness."

(Revelation 1:5-6) "and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, {6} and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen."

(Revelation 5:10) "And have made us kings and priests to our God; And we shall reign on the earth.""

(John 5:30) ""I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me."

2.) (Proverbs 21:3) "To do righteousness and justice Is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice."

(Proverbs 21:15) "It is a joy for the just to do justice, But destruction will come to the workers of iniquity."

(Proverbs 29:4) "The king establishes the land by justice, But he who receives bribes overthrows it."

(Proverbs 20:8) "A king who sits on the throne of judgment Scatters all evil with his eyes."

(2 Chronicles 19:6 NKJV) "and said to the judges, "Take heed to what you are doing, for you do not judge for man but for the LORD, who is with you in the judgment."

(Proverbs 16:10-13) "Divination is on the lips of the king; His mouth must not transgress in judgment. {11} Honest weights and scales are the Lord's; All the weights in the bag are His work. {12} It is an abomination for kings to commit wickedness, For a throne is established by righteousness. {13} Righteous lips are the delight of kings, And they love him who speaks what is right."

3.) (1 Corinthians 11:31) "For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged."

(Acts 2:38) "Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."

4.) (Proverbs 18:17) "The first one to plead his cause seems right, Until his neighbor comes and examines him."

(Proverbs 18:13) "He who answers a matter before he hears it, It is folly and shame to him."

(Jeremiah 17:9) ""The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it?"

5.) (John 7:24) ""Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.""

(2 Corinthians 10:7) "Do you look at things according to the outward appearance? If anyone is convinced in himself that he is Christ's, let him again consider this in himself, that just as he is Christ's, even so we are Christ's."

(1 Samuel 16:5-13) "And he said, "Peaceably; I have come to sacrifice to the LORD. Sanctify yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice." Then he consecrated Jesse and his sons, and invited them to the sacrifice. {6} So it was, when they came, that he looked at Eliab and said, "Surely the Lord's anointed is before Him." {7} But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." {8} So Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, "Neither has the LORD chosen this one." {9} Then Jesse made Shammah pass by. And he said, "Neither has the LORD chosen this one." {10} Thus Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel. And Samuel said to Jesse, "The LORD has not chosen these." {11} And Samuel said to Jesse, "Are all the young men here?" Then he said, "There remains yet the youngest, and there he is, keeping the sheep." And Samuel said to Jesse, "Send and bring him. For we will not sit down till he comes here." {12} So he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, with bright eyes, and good-looking. And the LORD said, "Arise, anoint him; for this is the one!" {13} Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel arose and went to Ramah."

6.) (Exodus 23:1-3) ""You shall not circulate a false report. Do not put your hand with the wicked to be an unrighteous witness. {2} "You shall not follow a crowd to do evil; nor shall you testify in a dispute so as to turn aside after many to pervert justice. {3} "You shall not show partiality to a poor man in his dispute."

(Leviticus 19:15-18) "'You shall do no injustice in judgment. You shall not be partial to the poor, nor honor the person of the mighty. In righteousness you shall judge your neighbor. {16} 'You shall not go about as a talebearer among your people; nor shall you take a stand against the life of your neighbor: I am the LORD. {17} 'You shall not hate your brother in your heart. You shall surely rebuke your neighbor, and not bear sin because of him. {18} 'You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD."

7.) (Exodus 23:8) ""And you shall take no bribe, for a bribe blinds the discerning and perverts the words of the righteous."

(Deuteronomy 16:19) ""You shall not pervert justice; you shall not show partiality, nor take a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and twists the words of the righteous."

(Proverbs 17:23) "A wicked man accepts a bribe behind the back To pervert the ways of justice."

(Ecclesiastes 7:7) "Surely oppression destroys a wise man's reason, And a bribe debases the heart."

(Isaiah 5:23) "Who justify the wicked for a bribe, And take away justice from the righteous man!"

8.) (Ezekiel 33:17-18) ""Yet the children of your people say, 'The way of the LORD is not fair.' But it is their way which is not fair! {18} "When the righteous turns from his righteousness and commits iniquity, he shall die because of it."

(Exodus 23:3) ""You shall not show partiality to a poor man in his dispute."

(Deuteronomy 1:17) "'You shall not show partiality in judgment; you shall hear the small as well as the great; you shall not be afraid in any man's presence, for the judgment is God's. The case that is too hard for you, bring to me, and I will hear it.'"

(Deuteronomy 10:17) ""For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality nor takes a bribe."

(Deuteronomy 16:19) ""You shall not pervert justice; you shall not show partiality, nor take a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and twists the words of the righteous."

(2 Chronicles 19:7) ""Now therefore, let the fear of the LORD be upon you; take care and do it, for there is no iniquity with the LORD our God, no partiality, nor taking of bribes.""

(Psalms 82:2) "How long will you judge unjustly, And show partiality to the wicked? Selah"

(Proverbs 18:5) "It is not good to show partiality to the wicked, Or to overthrow the righteous in judgment."

(Romans 2:11) "For there is no partiality with God."

(James 2:1) "My brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with partiality."

(James 2:4) "have you not shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?"

(James 2:9) "but if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors."

(James 3:17) "But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy."

(1 Peter 1:17) "And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one's work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear;"

(1 John 2:1) "My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous."

9.) (Deuteronomy 6:1) ""Now this is the commandment, and these are the statutes and judgments which the LORD your God has commanded to teach you, that you may observe them in the land which you are crossing over to possess,"

(Deuteronomy 17:14-20) ""When you come to the land which the LORD your God is giving you, and possess it and dwell in it, and say, 'I will set a king over me like all the nations that are around me,' {15} "you shall surely set a king over you whom the LORD your God chooses; one from among your brethren you shall set as king over you; you may not set a foreigner over you, who is not your brother. {16} "But he shall not multiply horses for himself, nor cause the people to return to Egypt to multiply horses, for the LORD has said to you, 'You shall not return that way again.' {17} "Neither shall he multiply wives for himself, lest his heart turn away; nor shall he greatly multiply silver and gold for himself. {18} "Also it shall be, when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write for himself a copy of this law in a book, from the one before the priests, the Levites. {19} "And it shall be with him, and he shall read it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the LORD his God and be careful to observe all the words of this law and these statutes, {20} "that his heart may not be lifted above his brethren, that he may not turn aside from the commandment to the right hand or to the left, and that he may prolong his days in his kingdom, he and his children in the midst of Israel."

10.) (Proverbs 11:14) "Where there is no counsel, the people fall; But in the multitude of counselors there is safety."

(Proverbs 15:22) "Without counsel, plans go awry, But in the multitude of counselors they are established."

(Revelation 4:4) "Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white robes; and they had crowns of gold on their heads."

11.) (Proverbs 29:18) "Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he."

12.) (Leviticus 18:4-5) "'You shall observe My judgments and keep My ordinances, to walk in them: I am the LORD your God. {5} 'You shall therefore keep My statutes and My judgments, which if a man does, he shall live by them: I am the LORD."

(Ecclesiastes 8:6-7) "Because for every matter there is a time and judgment, Though the misery of man increases greatly. {7} For he does not know what will happen; So who can tell him when it will occur?"

13.) (James 2:13) "For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment."

(2 Corinthians 7:9-10) "Now I rejoice, not that you were made sorry, but that your sorrow led to repentance. For you were made sorry in a godly manner, that you might suffer loss from us in nothing. {10} For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death."

14.) (Philippians 2:5) "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,"

(John 9:39) "And Jesus said, "For judgment I have come into this world, that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may be made blind.""